IT'S not so much of a surprise that Jaguar are thinking about going off-road, more that they haven’t done it already.

Porsche’s Cayenne, BMW’s X5 and smaller 4x4s such as Audi’s Q5 show that there’s a massive demand.

Porsche are about to launch a 4x4 that’s smaller than the Cayenne, a car called the Macan, so it’s very logical that Jaguar should be looking at joining the muddy club.

You’d think, since Jaguar are the sister company of Land Rover, that a Jag SUV would share a platform with the Evoque, saving Jaguar a bundle of money.

But no, the C-X17 has been built using an entirely new aluminium chassis and shell that, according to Jaguar, will be used for future models including rivals to BMW’s 3 Series and Audi’s A4 that will be launched in 2015.

Look at the C-X17 and you can clearly see some influences from the F-Type sports car, especially the nose and front grille.

The concept is actually longer than an Evoque by 40mm but isn’t any taller, so it still has a sleek (for a 4x4) shape. The windscreen and tailgate glass are steeply raked to give a sporty look.

Inside the C-X17, there’s none of the traditional wood, even though Jaguar is pitching the car as a luxury motor.

Instead, the show car features leather trim and a piano black centre console.

Jaguar C-X17 concept SUV (Image: Newspress)

The four seats are trimmed in leather but are very simple bucket seats to save weight yet still be ­comfortable.

There’s a panoramic sunroof that features a translucent, multi-bladed sunscreen that can vary the flow of light into the cabin. The designers have also used something called ruthenium, which I had to find on Wikipedia (it’s a member of the platinum group) as well as machined and anodised aluminium trims.

Jaguar don’t tell us what engine is under the bonnet but when the new Jags come along they’ll be powered by a new range of four-cylinder engines that will be built at a new engine plant in ­Wolverhampton.

Petrol and diesel versions will be available, with some motors producing less than 100g/km of CO2.

The new, efficient engines and lightweight aluminium construction should mean they give headline making economy figures.

Jaguar have made so many concept cars that have never seen the light of day that I can’t count them.

Somehow, I don’t think the C-X17 will be one of them.

Bosses know that they need a car like this if they’re going to turn the company into a big numbers car builder.

What’s more, design boss Ian Callum says that the company have been guilty of building show cars that are too far removed from reality. That’s a pretty unsubtle hint that the C-X17 shows very clearly what a Jag 4x4 will actually look like in the showroom.